October 18, 2010 Robert Adams

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I am still working on Robert Adams and frankly, I will be working on the family for a while.  I hope to contribute a few other tidbits on the way.  As I said on the last blog, I found the book The Genesis of the United States which mentions Captain Adams in several pages and I will be addressing more references from this book.
The Genesis of the United States
A Narrative of the Movement in England, 1605-1616, which resulted in the Plantation of North America by Englishmen, disclosing the contest between England and Spain for the Possession of the soil now occupied by the Untied State of America; Set forth through a Series of historical manuscripts now first printed:
Collected, Arranged, and Edited by Alexander Brown
Volume 1 page 225
Extract from Stationers’ Record.  From the Court Minutes of the Stationers’ Company 1609 7mo Rgi
Mr. Bisshopp Mr. the Copy of the receipte under Mr. H. Hooper I,, Sir Thomas Smithes hande for the Mr. H. Lownes j CompniM Adventure into Virginia
Viz.
Received the 28th of April 1609 of Mr. Humphrey Hooper and Humphrey Lownes Wardens of the Stationers of the Citty of London the sum of one Hundred and twenty and five pounds & is for the said Compnie” adventure in the voyage to Virginia.  I said recd $125.0.0. Tho. Smythe.  The which sum of $125 pounds was Levyed and disbursed in The Compnie in portions as followeth
Vs
$ s d Mr. Bisshipp Mf the Comp” 10.0.0. Mr. Cole 3.0.0
Mr. Bonham Norton 5.0.0 Mr. Smithe 2.0.0
Mr. Hooper Elder Warden 3.0.0 Mr. Dighte 2.0.0
Mr. H. Lownes younger Warden 6.5.0 Mr. Knighte 2.0.0
Mr. Harrison the elder 5.0.0 Mr. Pavyer 2.0.0
Mr. Barker 5.0.0 Mr. Edw. Bisshopp 2.0.0
Mr. Mann the elder 5.0.0 M’Bill  3.0.0
Mr. John Norton 10.0.0 Mr. Cooke 2.0.0
Mr. Dawson 3.0.0 Mr. Islip 2.0.0
Mr. Seton 3.0.0 Mr. Kingstone 2.0.0
Mr. leake 6.5.0 Mr. Weaver 2.0.0
Mr. Standish 5.0.0 Mr. Lawe 2.0.0
Mr. Richard Collins 2.0.0 Mr. Cotton 2.0.0
Mr. Keyle 2.0.0 Richard Boyle 5.0.0
Mr. Adams 10.0.0 Mr. Swinhowe 2.0.0
Mr Ockold 2.10.0
Mr. Bankworth 3.0.0
Mr. John Jaggard 2.0.0
M’Gylmaa 2.0.0

The Stationers Company is a trade guild given a royal charter in 1557 to regulate the various professions associated with the publishing industry, including printers, bookbinders, booksellers and publishers in England. The Register itself allowed publishers to document their right to produce a particular printed work and constituted an early form of copyright law. See Wiki

According to David Price’s book Love and Hate in Jamestown, The Stationer’s Company had invested substantially in the Virginia Company in 1609.

In footnote, page 95, in Cyprian Blagden’s book The Stationer’s Company a History 1403 to 1959, the 125 pounds contributed by the Stationer’s Company toward’s Thomas Smith’s adventure into Virginia was made up of subscriptions varying from 2 pounds to 10 pounds from 34 individual members of the Company.

Page 28 of the Report of the Virginia State Library volume 5 by the Virginia State Library.
November 18, 1610 A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colony of Virginia, with a confutation of such scandalous reports as have tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise was entered at Stationers’ Hall for publication, by Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Maurice Berkeley, Sir George Coppin and Master Richard Martin.

1611 Master William Welby entered for Publication at Stationer’s Hall  April 11, “Under The Handes of Sir Thomas Smith and Th’ Wardens.  The Bylls of Adventure with Blanckes concerning the Summes of money disbursed for adventures towards the voyage of Virginia.

As you can see Mr. Adams and Mr. Leek are mentioned in the list below.  You will see these two names connected again in later discoveries.

Volume I page 364
Captain Adams who sailed from Virginia in the Hercules on the 25th of May, probably arrived in England late in June or early in July, 1611, bringing among other documents, letters, etc  Dale to  Counsell, and Dale to the Commiittees.”

Page 365
Excerpt from letter From Sir Thomas Dale to the President and Counsell of the Companie of Adventureres and Planters in Virginia.

The 12. Of May we seized our Bay and the same night with a favorable Southeast gale (all prayse to God for it) we came to an anchor before Algernoone Forte at Point Comfory, where to our no small comfort again we discovered The Hercules, even then preparing to take the advantage of the present Tide to set sayle for England.  We had no sooner saluted the fort, and that us, and were come to an anchor, but Captain Adams came aboard us in his longe boate, who gave me to understand both of his Lordship’s departure for Mevis in the West Indies some ten days before our coining in (as by his Lordship’s letters you shall further understand thereof) as of Captain Percy’s being at the Fort, who together with some of the present Counsell had come down thither to give Captain Adams his discharge.  It was not full two hours before myself and Captain Newport went ashore, where we had related unto us the full circumstance of many things and the condition of the present Colony.